Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 4 October 2016, and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 4 October 2016 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The report before the Committee detailed responses to an informal consultation undertaken in the Upminster Ward area for the Upminster Controlled Parking Zone and its periphery.

The report outlined that a consultation of Upminster Ward was undertaken in December 2016 and the Committee at its meeting in March 2016 agreed to a further consultation in Upminster Ward on parking restrictions within the area indicated in Appendix 1 of the report.

  The consultation was split in to two, the area north of St Mary’s Lane was consulted on a full Controlled Parking Zone. The rest of the area of consultation south of St Mary’s Lane to Park Drive Road and Gaynes Park Road was consulted on Permit Parking areas as outlined in Appendix 2 of the report.

Residents of Little Gaynes Lane to Parkland Avenue and from Park Drive to Ockendon Rd had been sent information that their road would be assessed for junction protection if needed.

All of the responses to the consultation were outlined in the table appended to the report in Appendix 3 of the report.

The report informed Members that the principles of the proposal were to design a resident parking scheme in the Upminster Ward, with operational restrictions Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 6.30 pm, which would limit non-resident parking and increase the parking provision for residents, businesses and their visitors.

The report also indicated that the design of ‘At any time’ waiting restrictions on all junctions, bends and multi-vehicle accesses was to facilitate unhindered access and improve safety for all road users.

The report mentioned that the proposed consultation areas had been designed in conjunction with the Ward Councillors.

In accordance with the public speaking arrangements the Committee was addressed by a business owner of premises in Gaynes Park Road. The speaker sought clarification on  the proposed parking arrangement for the customers of the shops in Gaynes Park Road who had been using the parking bays near the shopping parade. The speaker raised concerns over the proposed parking restrictions and their impact on trade to the local businesses. In response the Committee was informed that officers would be approaching the local businesses individually to collate their view on the parking bays opposite the parade.

With its agreement Councillor Ron Ower addressed the Committee.

Councillor Ower commented that Ward Councillors had been monitoring the progress of the scheme over the past 18 months and were in support of the recommendations.

Councillor Ower also requested that the northern sides of both turning circles in Stewart Avenue be restricted with double yellow lines and that a Public Space Protection Orders area around Branfil School, in Cedar Avenue, be given a higher priority.

During a brief debate a Member of the Committee concluded that as Ward Councillors supported the proposals they should be progressed.

A Member commented that CPZ’s over a wide area seldom receive public support and suggested that the proposals should be scaled back to cover a smaller consultation area..

The Committee considered the report and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

The report before the Committee detailed responses to the advertised proposals to introduce a change of times of operation in part of the RO1 parking zone, along with junction protection to alleviate congestion issues.

The report detailed that following previous requests from concerned residents and a submission of a petition by 37 petitioners via Ward Councillors, it was agreed to undertake a review of the RO1 zone, with particular attention to the congestion and safety surrounding Carlton Road and its junctions with Glenwood Drive, Lodge Avenue and Stanley Road, and also reducing the perceived non-resident parking within the area.

In officers’ view, due to the proximity of Gidea Park Station and Romford Station there was a high risk of perceived non-resident parking. It was noted that if implemented, the area would be monitored and reviewed after six months to see if there are any detrimental effects to traffic flow or residential parking within the area.

In accordance with the public speaking arrangements the Committee was addressed by two residents who were both in support of the proposal.

The first resident stated that she had lived in the area for about 20 years and that local residents were in despair as a result of communter parking. The resident stated that current restrictions were not effective and raised concerns over obstructive parking, damage to vehicles and anti-social behaviour.. The resident suggested that the restrictions should be operational all day Monday to Saturday.

A second resident addressed the Committee and stated that the current restrictions were not effective, as there was all day parking in the area and commuters left rubbish on the street. The resident was of the opinion that the restriction times need to be extended and that junctions should be protected to limit inconsiderate parking.

During a brief debate a Member was of the view that enforcement of the current restrictions would be a more effective way to resolve the issues outlined by local residents.

A number of Members spoke in support of the proposal. 

Officers updated Members on an amendment to the recommendation which would now be as follows:

·          the Gidea Park Review area labelled Part 3 on the plan in Appendix A of the report be formally consulted on for a change to the operational times of parking restrictions to 8:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Saturday;

·         the Gidea Park Review area labelled Part 2 on the plan in Appendix A be informally consulted to establish any parking issues in the area;

·         that following the results of the informal consultations of the Gidea Park Review area shown labelled Part 1 in the report titled Appendix A , proposals be progressed for the:

                                          i.    introduction of junction protection at the junctions of Glenwood Drive and Carlton Road, Lodge Avenue and Carlton Road, and Stanley Road and Carlton Road, to increase safety and reduce congestion on Carlton Road;

                                        ii.    changes to the times of operation in Glenwood Drive (partial), Lodge Avenue (partial) and Carlton Road (partial), to match the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

Following clarification to a Member that the proposal related to a small close with 20 houses which was already surrounded by a control parking zone the Committee considered the report and without debate RESOLVED torecommend to the Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Environment, Regulatory Services and Community Safety that the proposed extension to the RO3 controlled parking zone into Juliette Mews be implemented as advertised.

Members noted that the estimated cost for the proposals in Juliette Mews RM1 was £3000 and would be met from the 2016/17 Minor Parking Schemes budget.

With its agreement Councillor Ray Best addressed the Committee and outlined that he understood from discussion with local residents that not all residents were in favour of the proposed restrictions. The view was that there was only a parking problem at the Collier Row Lane end of Lowshoe Lane. It was noted that there was an issue with traffic using Lowshoe Lane as a cut through.

During a brief debate a Member stated that there were only a small number of residents that wanted the restrictions as proposed.

A Member stated that there were problems caused by the Mazda Car Dealership which affected residents of the north–eastern corner of the review area and the first 8 properties in Hulse Avenue who were all in favour of the restrictions.

It was proposed to design and consult on a detailed scheme for Melville Road, Birds Farm Avenue, Ash Close, Lowshoe Lane( between Hood Walk and Collier Row Lane) Moorland Close and an area in Hulse Avenue to cover property Nos. 2 to 16.

 The Committee RESOLVED to recommend to the Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Environment, Regulatory Services and Community Safety that:

·         an area to include Melville Road, Birds Farm Avenue, Ash Close, Lowshoe Lane (between Hood Walk and Collier Row Lane) Moorland Close and an area in Hulse Avenue to cover property Nos. 2 to 16 be formally consulted for the introduction of a residents parking scheme and the introduction of pay and display parking in suitable locations.

·         That following the formal consultation a further report detailing the representations received would be reported back to the Committee to agree a further course of action.

·         Members noted that the estimated cost of the scheme was £7000 which would be funded from the 2016/17 Capital budget for Minor Traffic and Parking

Following a   comment from a Member that the levels of use of the Dorrington Gardens car park were low and a request that a review of the use of the car park should be undertaken; and following a request by another Member that the access arrangements into the car park were tight and should be reviewed officers confirmed that the matters would be raised with senior management outside the committee.

The Committee considered the report and without debate RESOLVED to recommend to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Regulatory Services and Community Safety that the area identified on the drawing entitled Appleton Way Area Proposed CPZ be formally consulted for introduction of a residents’ parking scheme and the introduction of pay and display parking in suitable locations.

Following the formal consultation a further report detailing the representations received would be reported back to the Committee to agree a further course of action.

Members noted that the estimated cost of the scheme was £6000 which would be funded from the 2016/17 Capital budget for Minor Traffic and Parking.

The Committee considered the report and without debate RESOLVED to recommend to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Regulatory Services and Community Safety that the proposed ‘At Any Time’ waiting restrictions in Park Lane / Cavendish Avenue be implemented as advertised.

Members noted that the estimated cost of the scheme as set out in the report was £1500, which would be met from the 2016/17 Minor Parking Schemes Budget.

The Committee noted that the Chairman had received a request for further traffic calming measures in the Hilldene School area. It was noted that the letter had been passed to officers who would respond accordingly.

A Member raised concerns that the yellow lines in the Hawthorne Avenue area had been removed. Officers confirmed that they would look into the matter and report back to the Member.